Machine for shaping heated metal articles



MACHINE FOR SHAPING HEATED METAL ARTICLES Original Filed Sept. 4, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet l Gum M Nov. 18, 1941. H. uRscHEL 2,263,022

MACHINE FOR SHAPING HEATED METAL ARTICLES Original Filed Sept. 4, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov.'18, 1941. B. H. URSCHEL 2,263,022

MACHINE FOR SHAPING HEATED METAL ARTICLES Original Filed Sept. 4, 1937 4 Sheets-SheetG H 4 @WCML Chan-M Nov. 18, 1941. B. H. URSCH EL 2,

- MACHINE FOR 'HAPING HEATED METAL'ARTICLES Original F' iled Sept.- 4, 1937 Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 T1116 7 1a J'WWM 5 Zmdz Patented Nov. 18, 1941 UNITED 1 STATE S ism-CE MACHINE FOR SHAPINGHEATED METAL ARTICLES .7

BertisH. Urschel, Bowling Green, Ohio Original application September 4, 1937, Serial No.

Divided and this application her 8, 1939, SerialNo. 294,000

Scptem-w f 6 Claims. (01. 266-6) My invention has for its object to provide an eficient means for shaping metal articles, wherein the shaping pressure may be increased as the articles approximate their final form, The invention isparticularly advantageous in its use to maintain the shape of articles formed of iron The invention provides a machine whereby pipes may be rapidly straightened, heat-treated, and cooled to rigidity while maintaining the pipes straight. The invention eliminates the necessity of reheating for straightening and temperaturedrawing pipes distorted by localized prehardening' of wall portions of the pipes.

The invention consists in other features an advantages that will appear from the following description and upon examination of the,

drawings forming a part hereof. Structures containing the invention may partake of difierent forms and may be varied in their details and still embody the invention. To illustrate a practical application of the invention, I have selected an article-straightening machine as an example of K the various structures that contain the inventionand shall describe the selected structure hereinafter, it being understood that certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features of the invention and without departing from the spirit of the invention as presented in the claims. The particular structure selected is shown in the accompanying drawings,

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 162,428, filed September 4, 1937, and issued as Patent No. 2,188,257 for a Machine for heat-treating metal articles.

Fig. 1 of the drawings illustrates a side View of one end part of the article-straightening machine. Fig. 2 illustrates a top View of the other end part of the machine. Fig. 3 illustrates a View of a section taken on the plane of the line 33 indicated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4"i1lustrates a rotatable clamping member for closing the endo? a hollow article that is heat-treated inthe machine. Fig. -5' is an enlarged, transverse sectional view through. one of thepressure units of the machine. Fig.6 is a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 6.---& indicated in Fig. 5.

The supporting structural parts or bed I, of themachineshown in the drawings, may-be formed of concrete, It is provided with a closed reservoir part' 2. and a trough part 3, which are connected together by a plurality of large pas-. sages 4.. The parts 2 and 3 are partially filled with a liquid 5, such as water, and a pneumatic, pressure-producing means, such as an electrically-operated blower 6 of a type sufficient to create a pneumatic pressure of 8 or 10' ounces, is. connected tothe reservoir part .2 through a suitable opening, such as the opening I, for, low-- e'ring theIwater in they reservoir part 2 by,the pressure of the'blower 6 and causing the water i to move throughthe passages .4 into the trough part .3 to. raise the level of the water. in the trough part/when the blower operates and t0.

return to. the reservoir part'and lower the level of ,the water in thetroug'h part. when the blower ceases to operate or when, its pressure is. reduced.

. The machine is designed for heat-treating and straightening pipesthat may be of. any length, such asfrom 20 to 40. feet long and 6 to 12 inches in diameter. The large passages .4, produce immediate and undisturbedtra'nsmision offthe water-from the reservoir part -2 into the trough part '31 and enables the liquid 5 to quickly and uniformly rise in the trough part 3 when greaterthan-atmospheric pressure. is produced in the reservoir, and. to. quickly return the water to the reservoir when the additional pressure ceases.

The pipes are. heated, by a suitable iurnacato a temperature above, the critical temperatures of the steel or alloys .of stir-:el,v of which thepipes may be formed,, in the manner well knownin the art of steeltempering. They are directed or conveyed to themachine, singly, by any suitable means. such as overtracks 8 that direct each pipe 9 -onto suitably. aligned pairs of rollers l0 that rotatably support thepipe while in the machine;

[In-order to heat-treatand shape extremely long pipes, the machine is provided with a plurality of units .H distributed along the trough part 3 of the machine, and comprises. means for rotating eachpipe as it is heat-treated, and a pressure mechanismfor engaging the pipe. The

pairs of rollers H] are supported on shortshafts [-2 located in the gear housings IS. The rollers It are located exterior theside walls of the housings l3and the shafts-l2 are supported in suitable bearings located on or formed in the side walls of the housings l3., Thehousings l3 are secured to bars M, which may be embedded in the bed I, and are provided with suitable frameand fiangeparts I5 that enable bolting'the units to the bed, such as by stud bolts partially embedded in the concrete of the bed. The shafts I2 of the units are driven by gear wheels I6 that are connected to the shafts and mesh with the gear wheels I! secured to the shafts H3. The

shaft 18 ofeach unit is rotatably supported thesidewall of the trough and is connected'with an electric motor l9, supported exterior to the 3|, to which the piston rod 38 is connected. The

cylinders 31 of the units of the machine are connected to a source of supply of fluid under pressure, which may be manually controlled by The passages in the control a suitable valve. valve to the cylinders may be suitably restricted to produce simultaneous movements of the levers 2 to move the rollers 20 against the pipe, and g the parts toward the rollers l0, located in the the end walls of thehousing and extends through a bed I, for driving the shafts I8 and 1 21 a'ndro-i,

tatingthe rollers l0 and the pipe-9 The pairs of rollersflfl of each unit are spaced apart so asto engage the pipe at points angularly located 120 apart, and a pair of pressure rollers 2!) is disposed, by a pressuremechanism 33, at points intermediate the rollers H], as meas ured on the .circle of thefexterior cylindrical surface of the pipe. The pressure rollers 20 are located" on levers 2! supported on brackets 22,

which may be secured to or'form integral parts of thehousings l3. The levers 2 l are each provided with a head 23 011 which an electric motor 24 is mounted." A shaft-25 is rotatably supported in the head 23 and is connected to the motor 24. A gear wheel 2'I is connected to the shaft 25 and, meshes with a gear wheel 28, which is Secured to shaft 30. The shaft3ll.is, also, rotat. ably supportedin the head :23. The pressure rollers'20 are located on the ends of the shafts ofv'the units so as to engage the pipe Bwhen the heads 23 are lowered by the movements of the levers2l. The pressurerollers, lQcatedon the ends of the shafts 3B, are disposed in the same'planes as the supporting rollers, located on the shafts l2, and, upon application of pressure, they counteract each other and hold the parts of the pipe between the opposed rollers inalignment, as the pipe cools; Thernotors l9 and I 24 Coast to rotate the pipe at a relatively high speedltojinsure; through the rollers, progressive o and gradual bending the pipe to straighten the Inasmuch as the pairs of rollers. ID of thema chine are located in axial alignment, the pressure of the rollers 20.0n the heated pipe will operate to progressively .axially align the parts of the pipe and, thus, straighten the heated pipe.

The pressure mechanism' 33is operated by a piston35 and a cylinder 31. The piston 35 is connected by means of the piston rod 38, with one of the links 3| .to exerta pressure to move the centralioint of the toggle toward a position of alignment with the pivot points of connection with the lever 2| and the bracket 32 mounted on. the bed I' and, thus, progressively. force the parts of the pipe in axial alignment and. straightenthe pipe. connected by means of the pin 40 with the The cylinder 31'is pivotally machine, with a relatively light, initial pressure to produce gradual shaping of the pipe while it is rotated by the motors.

When the heated pipe has been placed in the trough,.the pipe is rotated and the blower 6 is operated to raise the level of the liquid 5 and produce, contact between the liquid and pipe.

The temperature of the, pipe is quickly reduced to below the higher critical temperature, such as to about 1000" Fahrenheit or drawing temperature, depending upon the steel 01131301381191 tics of which the pipe is" formed, and the operation of the blower is immediately discontinued and the level of the liquid in the trough is lowered. The toggles 29 are automatically extended by the reduction in the diameter of the pipe while being subjected torthe pneumatic pressure in the cylinders 31. The toggles, thus, produce a progressivelyincreased magnification of the pneumatic pressure of the cylinders in the transmission of the pressure'to the rollers2 0 as the each succeeding operation, and-to maintain the level during the pressure of the pneumatic, pres.- sure-producing means; a plurality of valves 4| are disposed at spaced points along the bed *I of the machine above the reservoir part 2. valves 4| are provided with suitable pneumatic, pressure-actuatable elements that are ;slidably supported in' the casings of the Valves. The

valves are connected to .the reservoir part 2 of the machine through the openings 42 to operate the valves by a predetermined pressure produced in the reservoir by the blower 6 and open suitable ports, and limit the extent of the pneumatic pressure produced by the pneumatic, pressureproducing means in the reservoir, and, thus, limit the rise of the level of the liquid 5 in the trough part of the machine.

When the heated pipe is first introduced into the machine, its ends are closed by means of clamping members and 5! that cover the ends of the pipe 9 and prevent the entrance of the liquid of the trough into the pipe when the level of the liquid is raised. The clamping member 50 is rotatably supported in one end wall of the trough part of the machine and in substantially axial alignment with the pipe 9 when it has received its initial straightening immediately subsequent to the introduction of the pipe into the trough. The clamping member 5| is rotatably supported on theother end wall of the trough part and is connected in a cylinder 54, that The rapidly increasing presincreasing resistance to The may be pneumatically operated to press the clamping member against one end of the pipe during the rotation of the pipe, and shift the pipe lengthwise to engage the clamping member 50. Both ends of the pipe are covered by the clamping members to prevent entrance of the water into the interior of the pipe which would, otherwise, prevent uniformity of the temperature control. Thus, only the exterior surface of the pipe contacts with the water, which operates to surface-harden the pipe. In-order to prevent collapse of the pipe by the change in temperature, the clamping member has a stem or tubular part that extends through the end wall of the trough part 3, in which the clamping member 50 is rotatably supported, which enables air to enter the pipe, through the tubular part 55 of the clamping member, and maintain atmospheric pressure within the pipe during the heat-treatment.

When the heat-treatment is completed, the pipe may be discharged by a suitable mechanism for raising the pipe 9 from the rollers l6 and moving it on to the ends of the tracks 8. In the particular construction shown, a plurality of oscillatable arms 51 are pivotally supported upon suitable brackets 58 secured to the bars 60 having end parts that may be embedded-in the concrete, of which the bed I is formed. The arms 51 are operated by means of a shaft GI, to which are connected a plurality of arms 62. The arms 62 are connected to the arms 51 by means of links 64. The shaft 6| is actuated by means of pistons located in cylinders 65, which are located at opposite ends of and exterior to the sure by suitable valves, which may be manually actuated to operate the shaft 6| to dispose the pipe on the tracks 8, when it is desired to eject the pipe 9 from the machine. Preferably, the

tracks 8 are downwardly inclined from the points in the tracks to which the pipe is moved by the arms 51 to enable it to roll from the trough.

Thus, in the operation of the machine, the pipes to be heat-treated are sequentially placed on the rollers 10 and air is introduced into the cylinders 31 to produce gradual depression of the heads 23 as the rollers ID and 20 are rotated by the motors l9 and 24, to gradually axially align the parts of the heated pipe 9 and to dispose the ends of the pipe in alignment with the clamping members 50 and 5|. Air, under pressure, is then introduced into the cylinder 54, which closes one end of the pipe by the clamping member 5| and operates to move the pipe axially against the clamping member 50, which covers the other end of the pipe. The electric motor of the blower 6 is then operated. At the expiration of a predetermined time, as may be deter" mined by the operation of a suitable timer, the operation of the blower is electrically disconnected and ceases to operate. When the blow-er ceases to operate, air, at atmospheric pressure, will be transmitted through the blower to the reservoir. The level of the liquid in the trough part is lowered by the difi'erence in the head of the liquid in the trough and the reservoir parts, both being subject to atmospheric pressure. The pipe is then ejected by the operation of the arms 51, which are actuated by the shaft 6i.

During the drawing of the temper of the steel and to prevent warping during the cooling of the pipe, the contraction of the wall of the pipe operates, automatically, to magnify the pressure exerted by the pistons on the toggles 29 to resist the distortion that might, otherwise, occur during the contraction of the pipe as rigidity of the pipe wall increases.

I claim:

1. In a machine for shaping heated elements, means for supporting a heated element and having a plurality of spaced pressure parts; a pressure member located in opposed relation to the supporting means and having a plurality of spaced pressure parts for pressing the element against the said means, the pressure parts of the said means and the member located in the same counteracting pressure planes; and an actuating means controlled by the contraction of the cooling element for automatically increasing the pressure of the member on the element and between the parts as the element cools.

2. In a machine for shaping cylindrical, heated elements, a plurality of rollers having raised cylindrical, spaced, pressure parts for supporting a substantially cylindrical, heated element; a plurality of pressure rollers having raised cylindrical, spaced, pressure parts and located in common counteracting pressure planes with the parts of the supporting rollers; means for rotating the rollers and the element; and an actuating means controlled by the contraction of the cooling element for automatically increasing the pressure of the pressure rollers on the element as the element cools until the external diameter of the element is substantially that of a true circle through the contact points of the circularly arranged parts with the element.

3. In a machine for shaping hollow, heated, cylindrical elements, a receptacle having a cooling liquid; a pair of rollers rotatively mounted in the receptacle having raised cylindrical, spaced, pressure parts for supporting a substantially cylindrical, heated element; a plurality of pressure rollers having raised cylindrical, spaced, pressure parts located in common counteracting pressure planes with the parts of the supporting rollers; means for rotating the rollers and the element;

means for submerging the element in the cooling liquid; means including a toggle mounted on the wall of the receptacle for moving each pressure 1 roller against the element; a source of substantially constant fluid pressure; and a fluid pressure means connected to the said source for actuating the central toggle joint of each toggle to progressively increase the resultant pressure of the pressure rollers and until the central toggle joint has moved to substantially in line with the end joints of each toggle.

4. In a machine for shaping cylindrical, hollow, heated elements, a receptacle; a cooling liquid located in the receptacle; a plurality of rollers for supporting a heated element in the receptacle; protruding cylindrical parts concentrically supported on the rollers; means for rotating the rollers; a lever; a plurality of pressure rollers carried by the lever for engaging the element, the pressure rollers located in common, counteracting pressure planes of the parts on the supporting rollers; a toggle for operating the lever; mean-s for raising the level of the liquid in the receptacle; a source of fluid pressure; and a fluid pressure actuating means connected to the source and to the central joint of the toggle to move the pressure rollers against the heated element and increase the pressure of the pressure rollers as the element contracts by cooling.

5. In a machine for shaping hollow, heated, cylindrical elements, a supporting frame; a pair of rollers rotatively-mounted in the frame and having raised cylindrical, spaced, pressure parts for supporting a substantially cylindrical, heated element; a pressure roller having raised cylindrical, spaced, pressure parts located in common counteracting pressure planes with the said parts of the supporting rollers; means for rotating the rollers and the element; a lever fulcrumed on the frame for'moving the pressure roller against the element; a toggle having one toggle partpivoted to the'end of the'power arm of the lever remote from the fulcrum and the other toggle part pivotally secured to the frame; a source of fluid pressure; and a fluid pressure means connected to the said source for actuating the central toggle joint to progressively increase the resultant pressure of the pressure rollers, as multiplied by the lever, until the central toggle joint has moved to substantially in line with the end joints of the toggle.

6. In a machine'for shaping hollow, heated, cylindrical elements, a receptacle having a cooling liquid; a plurality of pairs of supporting rollers rotatively mounted in the receptacle having raised cylindrical, spaced, pressure parts for supporting a substantially cylindrical, heated element; a plurality of pressure rollers having raised cylindrical, spaced, pressure parts located in common counteracting pressure planes with the said parts of the supporting rollers; means for rotating the rollers and the element; means for submerging the element in the cooling'liquid; a plurality of levers fulcrumed on the wall'of the receptacle each lever operative to move a pressure roller against the element; a plurality of toggles, each toggle having one toggle part pivoted to one end of the power arm of a lever and the other toggle part pivotally secured to the receptacle; a source of substantially constant fluid pressure; and fluid pressure means connected to the said source for actuating the central toggle joint of each toggle to progressively increase the resultant pressure of the pressure rollers, as multiplied by the levers, until the centraltoggle joint of each toggle has moved to substantially in line with the end joints of the toggle.

BER'I'IS H. URSCHEL. 

